By Arvani Popullor The first news of '93 in support of reform: The draft law “on collective work confirmation” is approved. At a time when serious discussions are under way about privatizing apartments and shops, the question is also being raised at the same time: what will happen to some commissions, to all the staff, and to the sectors that until now have existed only thanks to their bureaucratic nourishment? At least so far, a way has been found to keep part of the old administration standing. The new draft law, humorously called “collective work confirmation,” seems to create the possibility for many of those who once worked for the glory of the system to be confirmed now, without having to exert themselves much, in the new structures. This would be ridiculous if it were not also tragic. Because instead of fair competition and proof of ability, the easiest path is chosen: the general stamping of yesterday as a guarantee for today. And if an entire people is waiting for real reforms, some old offices seem to be waiting only for the sign on the door to be changed. On the stage of the former block everything is mixed together: orgies of inherited privilege, corruption in the name of experience, comedy of statements and social tragedy. And, as usual, the one who pays is the ordinary citizen, who on the one hand hears speeches about the market and freedom, while on the other sees the very same mechanisms being recycled, the ones that held him hostage for decades. Formally, the draft law is presented as an administrative necessity. Morally, it resembles a small amnesty for incompetence and yesterday’s servility. To say today that reform is moving forward, while collective formulas are being prepared to preserve collective privileges, is a kind of comedy with tragic effects. The question remains simple: can a new order be built with old logic? If so, then not only the stage but also the audience has every right to feel deceived.

On Monday, the cabinet of the Parliament examined and approved in principle several draft laws demanded by the times. Among them, besides the draft law on the privatization of apartments and shops, an important place was also occupied by the draft law on the so-called “collective work confirmation.” According to parliamentary sources, this law aims to provide a quick solution for the administration that, after political and economic changes, has been left in conditions of uncertainty and without clear criteria for reassessment. In article 2, defined as a law for the general confirmation of employees in certain sectors, the initiative is presented as a kind of transitional stabilization. But at first reading it is noticeable that the “confirmation” is based not so much on individual merit as on the prior existence of the job position and the need not to create an administrative vacuum. Thus, many civil servants who yesterday were part of the old state apparatus may continue today without being subjected to any real professional filter. Instead of an open competition and assessment on the basis of ability, the project seems to favor the preservation of inherited schemes, only under new names. Various deputies, according to sources from the chamber, expressed reservations about the terminology and the overall spirit of the text, pointing out that reform cannot move forward with collective confirmations, but with individual responsibility. Nevertheless, the draft law was approved in principle and is expected to be submitted to the relevant committees for further review. If this initiative remains the first symbolic law of the new year, then it is not hard to understand why critical voices are growing in public opinion. Reform, they say, is not helped by stamping yesterday collectively.

How many families did you [? How many thousands of apartments and how many villas? How many thousands of tons of coffee? How many murders did you order? How many years of prison did you give people? How many years of internment and how many trials without court? How many children of innocent parents? How much hatred for religion? How many lies about socialism? How much gold and treasure was taken from the citizens? How many factories without owners? How many destroyed tractors? How many cut-down forests? How many closed libraries? How many hidden files? How many irreparable mistakes? How many millions and billions in currency? How many files with your signature? How many Security collaborators? How many vehicles and how many palaces? How many favored brothers and sisters? How many human lives trampled upon? How many ruined villages? How many widows and how many orphans? How many orders to kill? How many years and how many decades of darkness? How many handcuffs and how many cells? How many old people and how many young people? How many tears and how much blood? O? o slaves. a [ASTI]

Nexhmije Hoxha refused to speak before the other defendant, Sulçe, was questioned The session of yesterday, dated 12.1.1993, at the Tirana Court, where the trial of Nexhmije Hoxha and the other defendant Sulçe is being held, was marked by numerous procedural debates and by a tense political climate. Great public interest was noted in the courtroom, with the audience following every move of the court and the defense closely. According to reports from the session, Nexhmije Hoxha refused to give explanations before the other defendant, Sulçe, was questioned first. This request opened discussions about the order of questioning and about each defendant’s procedural rights. During the hearing there were exchanges between the defense and the representatives of the prosecution, while the presiding judge intervened several times to restore order. The case drew attention not only because of the names involved, but also because of the political symbolism carried by the process in post-dictatorship Albania. At the end of the hearing no substantial progress had been made in the questioning, while it was indicated that the trial would continue amid tension and high public interest.

All of Albania in our country the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey Ismail Cem in Tirana He carried out a working visit yesterday The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Ismail Cem, arrived yesterday in Tirana for a working visit. During his stay, he held meetings with the highest Albanian state authorities, with the bilateral relations, economic cooperation and the situation in the region at the center of the talks. At the official meetings, the good level of Albanian-Turkish relations was appreciated and readiness was expressed to expand them further, especially in the fields of trade, investment and culture. Developments in the Balkans and the need to preserve regional stability were also discussed. The visit of the Turkish minister was considered an important step in strengthening the traditional ties between the two countries.

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